Skull clamp



M. VW. SLlND SKULL CLAMP Nov. 27, 1951 Filed March l2, 1949 my@ m d/mm ,2%

Patented Nov. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES I' PATENT OFFICE SKULL CLAMP Milo W. Slind, Spokane, Wash.

Application March 12, 1949, Serial No. 81,061

v (c1. ziizn 3 Claims.

1 v This invention relates to a clamp and more particularly to a clamp intended for use as a clamp to hold portions of a skull together.

During the performance of an autopsy the top portion of the skull must be removed in order that the brain may be examined. This is done by sawing the skull horizontally circumferentially of the head and thus allowing complete removal of the top portion of the skull, the sawing being done after the scalp has been cut and partially or entirely peeled from the skull. After the brain has been examined the removed portion of the skull is replaced and must be secured so that it will remain firmly in its proper position.

Therefore one object of the invention is to provide clamps of an improved construction which may be applied to meeting portions of the sawed skull and very rmly hold the sawed-off portion of the skull in place when it is restored to its original position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clamp having upper and lower jaws of such construction that clamps may be thrust upwardly into gripping engagement with the sawed-off portion of a skull and the said top portion of the skull then disposed in place over the lower or main portion f the skull and downward pressure exerted to force the clamps downwardly into gripping engagement with the skull and anchor the top of the skull in such manner that it will be prevented from shifting out of its proper position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clamp having upper and lower jaws of such construction that inner and outer arms or legs of the jaws will be disposed in flat contacting engagement with inner and outer surfaces of the skull, the inner legs being formed with teeth for gripping the skull and the outer legs being smooth so that they will not show through skin which has been replaced.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing portions of a skull held together by a clamp of the improved construction.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the improved skull clamp.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view upon an enlarged scale taken vertically along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.'.

This improved clamp is used for securing a replaced upper portion I of a skull to the main portion 2 of the skull, it being understood that the said upper portion of the skull has been sawed from the main portion for inspection of the brain and that when the upper portion of the skull is replaced a suitable number of the improved clamps will be applied in spaced relation to each other circumferentially of the skull to firmly hold the sawed-off portion of the skull against movement out Yof its original position relative to the main portion of the skull.

This skull clamp has companion jaws 3 which are of duplicate construction. Each of these jaws is formed from a strip of resilient metal which is bent in predetermined spaced relation to its ends to form a bridge 4 and inner and outer arms or legs 5 and 6. The two jaws are disposed in longitudinal alignment with each other with their bridge portions disposed in face to face engagement with each other where they are secured by spot welding, as shown at l, or in any other desired manner. Each outer leg is flat throughout its length and width but each inner leg extends from the bridge at right angles thereto, as shown at 8, and is then curved longitudinally so that it gradually curves away from the outer arm. This allows the clamp to be easily applied to a skull and forced into gripping engagement with the skull by pressure exerted longitudinally of the clamp. The curved inner leg or arm is punched in spaced relation to its fiat inner end to form a perforation 9 which is surrounded by teeth IU, and from an inspection of Figure 3 it will be seen 'that when the clamp is forced into place and portions of the skull are gripped between the inner and outer arms of the jaws the teeth will have biting engagement with inner surfaces of the/skull portions I and 2 and there will be no likelihood of the clamp accidently slipping out of place. Since the outer legs or arms are flat they will fit closely against the outer surface of the skull portions I and 2 and will not show through the skin when the scalp which has been peeled from the skull is returned to its original position. During use of the improved clamps asuitable number are applied to the sawed-off top portion I in spaced relation to each other circumferentially of the skull and pressed upwardly into place, as shown in Figure 1. The sawed-01T top of the skull is then disposed over the main portion 2 of the skull and downward pressure exerted to force the lower jaws into straddling and gripping engagement with the upper edge of the said main portion. The top I of the skull will thus be firmly anchored to the main portion V2 and when the scalp is drawn into place the outer arms or legs of the jaws will be completely covered and hidden.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed:

1. A skull-holding clamp comprising an upper jaw and a lower jaw, each jaw being formed from a strip of resilientl metal bent to form a bridge and inner and outer legs extending therefrom, said jaws being disposed in alinement and having their bridge portions in face to face engagement with each other, each outer legv being straight throughout its length and the inner legs being curved longitudinally with their free" end portions directed away from the outer legs, and said inner legs having portions spaced from the bridges punched inwardly and forming perforations supported by teeth projecting towards the outer legs for biting engagement with the inner surfaces of portions of a skull gripped between the legs of the said jaws.

2.l A skull-holding clamp comprising van upper jaw and a lower jaw, each jaw being formed from a strip of resilient metal bent tofform a bridge and inner and outer legs extending therefrom, said jaws being disposed in alinement and having their bridge portions secured in face to face engagement with each other, each outer leg being straight throughout its length and the inner legs being curved longitudinally away from the outer legs and in spaced relation to their attached ends being provided with teeth directed towards the outer legs.

3. A skull-holding clamp comprising an upper jaw and a lower jaw, each jaw being formed from a strip of resilient metal bent to form a bridge and inner and outer legs extending therefrom, said jaws being disposed in alinement` and having their bridge portions in face to face engagement with each other, each outer leg being straight throughout its length and the inner legs having portions punched inwardly and forming periorations surrounded by teeth projecting towards the outer legs.

MILO W. SLIND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent: v

UNITED Y STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 9251355 Howard June 8, 1909 1,398,852 Gilbert Nov. 29, 1921 2,379,179 Petersen June 26, 1945 

